our-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams, who was suspended for violating the NFLs substance abuse program.dddddddddddd Ty Nsekhe takes over. This summer, Washington general manager Sc

BOSTON -- On the streets, alleyways and parking lots of Bostons Chinatown, immigrants developed a unique style of volleyball now played in Chinatowns across the country. Now, an asphalt court where the game still thrives stands in the way of development.The prime slice of real estate near the historic Chinatown is steps from busy South Station and home to a 1930s-era steam plant with towering smokestacks and a modern state government office.But its also the site of Reggie Wong Memorial Park, a modest asphalt basketball and volleyball court where Chinese immigrants and their descendants play the game known as nine-man. An annual tournament between Chinatown teams across the country started blocks away from the hardcourt in the 1940s and continues to this day.Nine-man holds a special place for those of Chinese descent, said Tunney Lee, an urban studies and planning professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, whose father was a player and organizer.The game traces its roots to a style of volleyball developed in Taishan, a southern Chinese city where many of the earliest Chinese immigrants hailed from, and became a critical social outlet for immigrants largely isolated from broader American society.Part of the image of the Chinese was that of weaklings who were passive and servile, Lee said. Volleyball was a skill sport with strategy, teamwork and aggressiveness.At its most basic, nine-man involves more players -- standard volleyball has six players per side -- as well as a larger court and modified rules that have allowed for a different style of gameplay to evolve.Todays organizers say the first intercity game happened in Boston in 1935, between locals and a team from Providence, Rhode Island.The competitions steadily grew over the years, with Chinese communities in New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Los Angeles fielding teams to play in Boston.The North American Chinese Invitational Volleyball Tournament carries on the intercity rivalry today, hosting an annual competition in a different Chinatown each Labor Day weekend.Republican Gov. Charlie Bakers administration began seeking proposals last month to buy and develop the 5-acre site thats home to Reggie Wong Park as a centerpiece of his pledge to generate revenue and spur development by unloading underused government land.Chinatown activists and nine-man enthusiasts have voiced their concerns at community meetings this past year, prompting the administration to require developers to propose ways to carve out a public park somewhere on the site at least as big as the current court.Patrick Marvin, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, which is overseeing the land sale, notes the state is requiring prospective developers to guarantee the park remains public. It is also calling for other open space areas on the development site.But some in Chinatown want the state to require a larger park with more amenities. They also want guarantees that a temporary space will be carved out during construction so organized games can continue uninterrupted. And they worry not enough housing built on the property will be affordable to lower-wage Chinatown residents.The park is the latest battleground in the decades-long debate over gentrification in one of the nations oldest and largest Chinatowns. The neighborhood, with narrow streets lined with independent storefronts and eateries, has withstood waves of redevelopment dating to the 1950s, when an interstate highway was cut through it.Russell Eng, who coaches teen volleyball at the park, named after his uncle, says it keeps the Chinese community connected even as more increasingly live in suburbs, some of which have sprouted their own satellite Chinatowns.Todays Chinatown is geographically wider than what it was when I growing up there, he said. Reggie Wong Memorial Park serves as the center of the universe for them.Ursula Liang, who made the 2014 documentary 9-MAN: a Streetball Battle in the Heart of Chinatown, says Bostons predicament isnt unique.In her current hometown of New York, the Boston-area native says asphalt parks where nine-man is played are being converted into fields for soccer and other sports to draw new residents.Said Liang: What concerns me is that while most of these proposals tout things like economic growth and community improvement, ultimately the ideas that win out benefit politicians and businesspeople more than anyone else.---Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/journalist/philip-marcelo Wholesale Jerseys China . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. China Jerseys Cheap . - Levi Browns tenure at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers is over before it even began. http://www.nflcheapjerseyschina.net/ .C. -- Calgarys Kevin Koe did it the hard way again. Jerseys NFL Wholesale . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. Wholesale Basketball Jerseys 2018 . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. One team has seen its surprising early success come to a screeching halt. The other has a tenuous hold on the final NFC playoff spot after an up-and-down first half of the season.When the Minnesota Vikings and the Washington Redskins meet at FedEx Field on Sunday, a critical NFC playoff tiebreaker could be up for grabs.But the bigger question for both teams: Can they shake off brutal setbacks in recent weeks?The Redskins (4-3-1) were beaten in the final minute three weeks ago in Detroit and followed that game with a baffling 27-27 tie against Cincinnati in London where kicker Dustin Hopkins missed a 34-yard kick in overtime.Minnesota, meanwhile, has dropped three games in a row after a 5-0 start. The Vikings (5-3) once looked like the class of the NFC North. But after the Lions also handed them a stunning overtime loss last week -- Minnesota was up by a field goal with 23 seconds to play in regulation -- the recent skid has left them vulnerable.We have to get back to making sure that we execute what were trying to do as opposed to worrying too much about the Redskins, Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer said. Obviously, you always try to attack the areas that you think you can attack. But for us in this week and where were at, its more about just us executing and doing the things we can do well.The Vikings offense hasnt been very good without star running back Adrian Peterson (torn meniscus, right knee), who has been out since Sept. 18. Minnesota ranks 25th in points scored (19.4), last in yards per play (4.68) and yards per game (298.8) and 31st in rushing yards (72.6).Things havent shaped up the way weve wanted them to, but its only a couple plays away, said Minnesota wide receiver Stefon Diggs, a Maryland native who returns to play in front of friends and family in his home state. We have the guys that hone in on everything that they want to get done each and every day. Its going to shake the way its supposed to.The Vikings could find a tonic in a Washington defense that still struggles to get off the field on third downs (29th overall). The Redskins arent particularly stout on the defensive line and have issues at safety, where veteran Donte Whitner was signed Oct. 5 and is now the primary starter at strong safety.The Redskins have already lost DeAngelo Hall (torn ACL, right knee) for the season and Will Blackmon, his backup, expects to play this week with a cast on his left hand for a broken thumb. Diggs (48 receptions) can expect to see plenty of star cornerback Josh Norman, who has been a magnet for fines and penalties this season, but remains one of the games most physical corners.The key matchup is on the other side of the ball, however. The Redskins are without four-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams, who was suspended for violating the NFLs substance abuse program.dddddddddddd Ty Nsekhe takes over. This summer, Washington general manager Scot McCloughan insisted that Nsekhe, a journeyman who spent several years in the Arena Football League before finally sticking in the NFL at age 29, could start for half the teams in the league.Maybe so.Now 31, Nsekhe, a mammoth presence at 6-foot-8, 350 pounds, started two games for the Redskins last year and held up well enough. But the Vikings defensive front is excellent.Even after three losses in a row they allow the fewest points per game in the league (15.8) and are eighth in rushing yards allowed (93.1).Minnesota will see a Washington offense that ranks 14th in points per game (23.3). But the Redskins are dangerous with weapons all over the field for quarterback Kirk Cousins.Wide receiver DeSean Jackson is nursing a shoulder injury and is listed as doubtful after not practicing all week.Jamison Crowder has 40 catches and has become one of the best slot receivers in the NFL. Tight end Jordan Reed (42 catches) is a matchup nightmare, but veteran tight end Vernon Davis (23 receptions) has been dangerous, too. And the reliable Pierre Garcon (36 catches) is a go-to option for Cousins on third down.The Vikings must win the battle at the line of scrimmage because if Washington figures out its red-zone issues it will score. The Redskins are fourth in yards per game (410.3), but 30th in red-zone percentage (40.63 percent).Part of that is due to Cousins two red-zone interceptions and a fumble by running back Matt Jones inside the 5-yard line in the Detroit game on Oct. 23. But defenses are taking away Cousins options, too.There are times where in the rhythm of the play guys arent going to always be open in the end zone, Cousins said. If teams play max coverages and cover people, maybe everyones not open and thats where I look and say, Can I scramble? Can I make a play off-schedule?The Redskins have protected Cousins well by allowing sacks on only 3.42 percent of pass attempts. But Minnesota defensive ends Everson Griffen has six sacks and Danielle Hunter and Brian Robison have four apiece. Linval Joseph has three and is a big presence at nose tackle that Washington must account for without Williams.You hate to make one game more important than the other but these next two games in general are going to be important, said Redskins coach Jay Gruden, whose team plays Green Bay, another NFC North title contender, at home the following Sunday night. Theyre two home games that are very, very big for us. Were 4-3-1. Were right now currently (the No. 6) seed but were in a position where we dont have a lot of room for error. Cheap NFL T-shirts Discount Jerseys Wholesale NFL Gear Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Jerseys Wholesale Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping China Jerseys Cheap Stitched Jerseys NFL Jerseys China Jerseys NFL Cheap Cheap Stitched Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic ' ' '